Library  of  the 
University  oi  North  Carolina 

Endowed  by  the  Dialectic  and  Philan- 
thropic Societies 


JlinongDmmng  Girls 


in  the  South 


A  Glimpse  of  Thirty-five  Years'  Work 

SHOWING  SOMETHING  OF  WHAT  GOD  HATH 
WROUGHT  AMONG  THE  SOUTHERN  HIGH- 
LANDERS OF  NORTH  CAROLINA  :::::: 

Story  of  Tdttb  and  Crust 


FRANCES    ELLINGWOOD  UFFORD 
1879  1914 


Light  on  the  Pathway 

CHAPTER  I 
How  I  Was  Led 

AT  the  earnest  solicitation  of  many  warm  friends  and 
supporters,  who  have  followed  my  steps  for  the  past 
thirty-five  years  with  their  prayers  and  contributions,  I 
have  consented  to  attempt  to  portray  in  these  few  modest 
pages  the  gracious  leading  of  providence. 

With  a  deep  and  profound  sense  of  divine  guidance, 
I  beg  to  lift  the  curtain  in  review  of  these  hallowed  years, 
to  record   these   following   chapters   of   human  events. 


JAMES  B.  WHITE 


coassociated  with  the  God  of  Missions.  Behold  the 
wondrous  plan  of  God  in  laying  upon  the  heart  of  a  poor 
white  man,  (Mr.  James  B.  White,  near  Concord,  N.  C.,) 
the  burden  of  prayer  for  twenty  years,  in  behalf  of  the 
poor  children  of  his  neighborhood!  While  he  was  plead- 
ing that  teachers  might  be  sent,  the  writer  was  asking  for 
permission  to  enter  a  larger  field  of  labor, 


2 


Having  completed  eight  years  in  teaching  at  Bloom- 
field,  N.  J.,  the  way  opened  in  1878,  for  entering  Bethany 
Institute,  a  Bible  Training  School  for  Christian  workers 
in  New  York  City.  Two  years  previous  to  this,  the  writer 
received  the  blessed  infilling  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  power 
for  service.  Little  did  we  dream,  as  our  willing  feet  crossed 
this  new  threshold  of  endeavor,  what  a  wonderful  oppor- 
tunity for  service  awaited  us! 

We  had  been  at  the  Institute  six  months,  engaged  in 
city  mission  work.  Other  hearts  were  burdened  for  the 
neglected    children,    a   letter     being  received   by  the 


MRS.  S.  W.  SCOTT 

Superintendents  of  the  Institute,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  G. 
Ruliffson,  from  their  friends,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Borland, 
founder  of  the  first  School  for  Colored  girls  at  Concord, 
N.  C,  asking  if  a  Bible  reader  could  not  be  sent  to  work 
there.  The  letter  was  read  to  us  and  the  question  pro- 
posed as  to  entering  this  work.  We  prayed  about  it.  The 
decision  was  made  to  do  so,  our  Father  opening  the  way.  We 
shrank  from  going  alone.  Would  not  God  provide  a 
companion?  He  did  provide  one — Mrs.  S.  W.  Scott,  a 
widow,  who  had  also  been  engaged  in  city  mission  work  in 
connection  with  the  Institute.  She  decided  to  accompany 
me. 


3 


A  few  friends  became  interested.  They  gave  us  each 
fifty  dollars  for  expenses.  A  farewell  meeting  was  held  for 
us,  at  which  Mrs.  James  Lorimer  Graham,  then  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Woman's  Board  of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions, 
made  a  stirring  address  and  offered  prayer  for  us. 

A  Work  Born  of  Prayer 

Thus  we  went  out  in  the  apostolic  way,  leaving  New 
York  on  March  2,  1879,  for  Concord,  North  Carolina. 

We  were  given  a  home  by  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Borland  at 
Scotia  Seminary,  referred  to  above.  God  was  pleased  to 
use  us  in  a  gracious  outpouring  of  His  Spirit,  thirty  of  the 
colored  girls  being  converted  in  two  weeks. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  revival,  we  received  a  call 
from  Mr.  White,  who  resided  three  miles  from  the  Center. 
He  told  us  how  long  he  had  been  praying  for  a  school  at 
Rocky  Ridge  for  white  girls. 

Dr.  Dorland  had  said  to  me  repeatedly,  ''Miss  Ulford, 
you  will  have  to  go  out  in  the  country,  and  start  a  school 
for  the  white  children."  Now  we  saw  the  hand  of  God 
guiding  us  to  our  work  there. 

After  reaching  Concord,  we  agreed  to  spend  an  hour 
each  day  in  prayer,  for  guidance,  that  we  might  be  used  of 
God  for  His  glory. 

A  log  cabin  and  four  acres  of  land  had  been  laid  upon 
God's  altar  for  the  school,  by  Mr.  White  and  his  aged 
father,  being  confident,  on  hearing  of  our  arrival,  that  we 
were  sent  in  answer  to  his  prayer.  Before  seeing  us,  he 
canvassed  the  entire  community  to  ascertain  how  many 
would  send  their  children  to  the  Northern  ladies.  He  found 
the  majority  would  do  so.  Most  earnestly  did  he  plead 
with  us  to  open  the  school.  We  laid  the  matter  before 
God  in  prayer.  Mrs.  Graham  in  New  York  approved 
of  the  step  proposed. 

On  June  30,  1879,  we  were  driven  out  to  the  field 
three  miles  from  Concord  by  Mr.  White  named  ''Rocky 
Ridge,"  and  introduced  to  the  log-cabin  (see  cut),  being 
^  greeted  by  twenty  children  whose  ages  ranged  from  five 
^         to  twenty-two  years. 


4 


The  school  each  morning  was  opened  by  prayer,  Bible 
lesson  and  a  Gospel  hymn. 

In  three  weeks'  time,  sixty  children  filled  the  cabin  to 
overflowing.  Then  we  erected  a  ''brush  arbor"  to  ac- 
commodate them.  Mrs.  Scott's  dehcate  health  forbade 
her  remaining  longer  than  two  months.  She  left  me  the 
last  of  August  for  her  home  in  New  York.  For  eight 
months  longer,  the  work  continued  in  the  cabin,  the  writer 
holding  the  fort  alone,  though  being  constantly  upheld 
and  guided  by  our  unseen  but  ever  present  Lord  and  Mas- 
ter. 


LOG-CABIN 

In  addition  to  the  teaching  of  the  sixty  or  more  pupils, 
we  conducted  a  Sunday  School  at  the  cabin  each  Sabbath 
morning  and  a  prayer-meeting  in  the  evening.  The  children 
delighted  in  singing  the  Gospel  hymns,  and  reciting  Scripture 
verses  at  these  services. 

Invitations  were  frequently  accepted  for  holding  extra 
services  a  few  miles  out  from  Rocky  Ridge.  These  places 
were  reached  by  horseback.  Eagerly  the  people  watched 
for  our  coming,  improvising  seats  in  their  cabin  homes, 
which  were  crowded  with  earnest  listeners,  as  we  unfolded 
to  them  the  Word  of  God.  The  cottage  meetings  held  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  school  were  greatly  blessed  of 
God,  resulting  in  several  conversions.    Boarding  with  Mr, 


s 


white  and  family,  we  were  at  liberty  to  visit  in  the  homes  of 
the  people,  which  we  did  each  week.  This  enabled  us  to 
secure  a  better  acquaintance  with  the  families  and  there- 
by render  them  more  assistance  in  every  way,  for  their 
betterment. 

Few  of  them  had  but  one  room;  this  was  shared  with 
the  family  as  we  spent  a  night  in  their  different  homes. 
The  children,  as  well  as  parents,  were  terribly  addicted  to 
the  use  of  snuff  and  tobacco. 

The  writer  organized  for  the  school  a  temperance 
''Band  of  Hope."  Having  found  more  enjoyment  in  the 
learning  of  Bible  verses  and  Gospel  hymns,  than  in  the  use 
of  narcotics,  the  happy  children  signed  the  pledge  and  many 
of  them  kept  it. 

We  know  of  young  men  and  women  to-day — pupils 
of  that  first  school,  who  have  never  broken  their  pledge. 

A  Rare  Trophy 

Most  of  the  fathers  were  intemperate  men.  One  of 
these  had  been  a  drunkard  forty  years.  He  induced  his 
six  sons  to  enter  the  saloons  at  Concord.  There  they  drank 
and  gambled.  We  longed  to  see  this  poor  man  of  over 
sixty  years  reclaimed  and  saved. 

As  we  looked  to  God  in  his  behalf  and  asked  him  to 
sign  the  pledge,  the  Spirit  touched  his  heart.  After  read- 
ing the  pledge  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  one  Sabbath 
evening,  invitation  for  signing  it  being  given,  we  were  over- 
joyed to  see  this  man  step  forward  with  five  of  his  drink- 
ing companions  to  sign  his  name  to  it.  Although  his  com- 
panions failed  to  keep  it,  this  man  kept  the  pledge  in- 
violate. 

Every  Sabbath  afterward,  his  nickle  was  dropped  into 
the  collection  basket  instead  of  the  whiskey  till,  as  hereto- 
fore. Through  the  influence  of  the  Mission  he  was  thor- 
oughly transformed  and  several  years  later  died  a  triumph- 
ant death.  One  of  his  six  sons,  the  most  desperate  charac- 
ter of  all,  was  afterward  converted,  united  with  the  church, 
read  the  Bible  through,  and  died  a  happy  death.  We  had 
been  praying  for  his  conversion  twenty-five  years.  God 


6 


was  pleased  to  pour  out  His  Spirit  upon  the  school  and 
community  that  first  year.  In  answer  to  earnest  prayer,  a 
number  of  the  pupils  and  people  were  truly  converted. 


CHAPTER  II 
Erection  of  Buildings 

IN  response  to  appeals  made  in  New  York  state  by  my 
associate  Mrs.  Scott,  through  the  Northern  Presbyter- 
ian Board,  which  had  assumed  the  care  of  the  work,  five 
hundred  dollars  were  secured  by  her  and  sent  us.  The 


WHITE  HALL 


erection  of  a  two-story  plain  building  was  begun.  The  last 
of  April  our  closing  exercises  were  held  in  the  partially 
completed  house.  The  joy  of  the  pupils  in  occupying  it, 
knew  no  bounds.  It  was  beautifully  decorated  with  ever- 
greens and  wild  flowers  gathered  by  them  most  enthusias- 
tically. But  the  time  of  supreme  delight  was  during  the 
first  closing  exercises,  when  the  girls  and  boys  in  their  best 
attire,  put  forth  their  initial  efforts,  in  recitation,  declama- 
tion and  song,  in  the  presence  of  so  large  an  assembly  of 


7 


parents  and  friends.  Addresses  were  made  by  Dr.  Dor- 
land  and  Mr.  White.  I  glanced  at  the  face  of  the  latter, 
which  was  radiant.  His  dreams  and  cherished  hopes  for 
years  were  now  realized.  A  few  years  later  he  had  the 
great  joy  of  seeing  his  two  daughters  graduate  from  White 
Hall  Seminary.  We  gave  the  school  this  name  in  honor  of 
Mr.  White,  the  donor  of  the  first  property  used.  The 
writer  came  North  in  the  spring  of  '80,  returning  the  fol- 
lowing autumn,  with  a  Mt.  Holyoke  graduate — Miss  Eliza- 
beth Ainsworth. 

We  reopened  as  a  boarding  and  day  school.  Twelve 
girls  were  received  as  boarders  and  fifty  girls  and  boys  as 
day  pupils.  God  set  His  seal  upon  the  work  by  giving 
us  all  the  unsaved  souls  among  the  twelve  boarding  pupils 
of  that  first  year. 

Thus,  from  year  to  year.  His  blessing  accompanied 
our  efforts.  Eternity  alone  will  reveal  the  glorious  results 
of  the  work  of  this  first  school. 

Additional  funds  were  now  sent  us.  A  wing  forming 
the  letter  T  was  made  to  the  first  building.  The  cabin  was 
no  longer  needed  for  the  purpose  of  dining-room  and  kitchen. 
It  was  utilized  for  the  day-school,  a  larger  number  of 
boarding  pupils  being  received.  We  held  mothers'  meet- 
ings occassionally.  The  poor  women  were  much  inter- 
ested in  the  furnishings  of  our  mission  home.  Never  hav- 
ing seen  such  counterpanes,  they  were  es'pecially  attracted 
to  our  ''white  beds,"  as  they  termed  them.  When  reply- 
ing to  their  queries  about  the  bedroom  sets  and  furniture, 
that  all  was  given  us  by  friends  North,  they  exclaimed, in 
wonder,  "They  didn't  give  'em  for  nothin,'  did  they?" 

Unable  to  secure  sufficient  land  for  the  enlargement  of 
the  White  Hall  school,  at  the  expiration  of  eight  years,  when 
forty-two  girls  were  in  attendance  there,  a  sufficient  teach- 
ing force  provided,  the  Presbyterian  Board  in  New  York 
came  most  providentially  into  possession  of  a  grand  proper- 
ty at  Asheville,  over  one  hundred  miles  distant  from  Con- 
cord. This  property  was  owned  by  the  late  Rev.  L.  M. 
Pease,  founder  of  the  Five  Points  House  of  Industry  in 
New  York.    It  was  valued  at  thirty  thousand  dollars.  This 


he  gladly  laid  upon  God's  altar,  donating  all  to  the  Board 
(except  a  life  annuity  for  use  of  himself  and  wife)  for  the 
first  school  for  Mountaineers  in  Western  North  Carolina. 
The  writer  having  had  the  eight  years'  experience  at  White 
Hall,  the  late  Mrs.  D.  Stuart  Dodge  petitioned  the  Board 
for  our  release  from  there,  to  assist  in  the  founding  of  this 
one  at  Asheville,  known  as  the  ^'Home  Industrial  School." 


HOME  INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOL 
During  a  number  of  years,  the  school  was  ably  super- 
intended by  Mr.  Pease.  He  and  his  noble  life-companion 
rendered  most  valuable  services  to  the  Board,  being  suc- 
ceeded by  Miss  Florence  Stephenson  as  principal,  who 
entered  the  work  the  first  year,  1887.  From  its  inception, 
the  results  of  this  work  have  been  marvelous.  Hundreds  of 
poor  girls  have  been  received,  trained,  saved  by  God's 
grace,  and  are  now  doing  grand  work  in  teaching  and  train- 
ing others  of  their  own  class. 

While  the  writer  was  at  work  there,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pease  invited  Miss  Frances  E.  Willard  and  her  associate 
Miss  Gordon  to  visit  them.  While  with  us,  Miss  Willard 
became  deeply  interested  in  the  work  we  were  doing.  Her 
visit  proved  a  great  inspiration  to  both  teachers  and  pupils; 
in  fact  one  of  our  girls  named  herself  Josie  Willard  in  ad- 
miration of  her  noble  character.  The  career  of  Miss  Will- 
ard, like  that  of  Mrs.  Garfield,  illustrates  the  wisdom  of 
being  educated  for  the  possibilities  of  life. 


9 


CHAPTER  III 
Another  Double  Providence 

It  was  an  unspeakable  pleasure  to  assist  in  founding  the 
^  above  second  institution. 

Before  leaving  the  first,  however,  I  received  a  call  to 
enter  Stanly  County,  sixteen  miles  from  Concord.  Rev. 
Mr.  Arrowood,  a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  was 
appointed  by  the  Presbytery  to  plant  a  church  at  Locust 
Level. 

Before  entering  the  field,  he  preached  for  us  at  White 
Hall  Seminary.  After  doing  so,  he  wrote,  urging  me  to 
found  a  school  there  adding  '^Come  over  into  Macedonia 
and  help  us. "  His  place  was  filled  by  Rev.  J.  G.  Anderson, 
who,  later,  preached  also  in  Stanly  County.  The  desire 
of  the  writer  was  to  found  at  Locust  a  school  for  boys. 

We  completed  a  year  at  Asheville,  then  resigned  from 
the  Board  for  a  year's  rest,  appealing  to  them  for  the  school. 
Our  appeal  was  not  in  vain.  We  were  given  permission  to 
secure  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  While  we  were  presenting 
the  cause  and  gathering  funds,  Rev.  Mr.  Anderson,  with- 
out knowledge  of  this,  wrote  a  friend,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  Women's  Board  in  New  York,  in  regard  to  planting 
a  school  at  Locust  Level.  In  a  few  months  I 
succeeded  in  raising  a  sufficient  amount  for  a  successful 
start  in  the  erection  of  the  building.  Mr.  Anderson  as- 
sumed the  oversight  of  the  work,  and  a  young  man  of 
efficiency  and  honor  expended  the  funds  as  we  sent  them 
on  to  him.  This  was  in  the  summer  of  '89.  Long  had  we 
desired  to  attend  the  Northfield  Conference.  The  way 
was  opened  for  us  to  do  so  at  this  time. 

Earnestly  did  we  look  to  our  heavenly  Father,  for 
an  opportunity  to  present  there  this  work  of  our  new  ven- 
ure.  Thirty  precious  dollars  were  received  toward  it.  We 
had  told  a  number  of  friends  of  the  work  from  the  beginning 
and  of  this  proposed  school  for  boys  On  Saturday  after- 
noon, the  day  before  the  Conference  was  to  close,  we,  with 
a  few  other  mission  workers,  were  asked  to  speak  of  our 
work.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  service  a  gentleman  told 
us  of  his  interest  in  the  story  related^  and  s^id  that  he  was 


10 


going  to  ask  Mr.  Moody  to  permit  us  to  give  it  in  the  public 
meeting. 

Sabbath  evening  at  the  auditorium,  before  the  service 
opened,  Mr.  Moody  arose  and  said,  ''If  Miss  Ufford  is  in 
the  audience  will  she  please  come  to  the  platform. "  Seated 
behind  him,  with  the  choir,  I  arose  to  respond,  when, 
recognizing  me,  he  stated  that  I  was  to  speak  that  evening, 
and  would  be  given  ten  minutes.  Though  shrinking  from 
accepting  the  privilege  granted,  God's  hand  in  it  was  seen, 
and  His  divine  help  bestowed.  Never  before  were  we 
able  to  crowd  so  much  in  ten  minutes,  as  we  rehearsed  the 
story  from  its  beginning,  of  His  wonderful  leading,  in  the 
establishment  of  this  first  work  attempted  for  the  Mountain 
people  of  the  South.  As  we  closed  our  remarks,  Mr.  Moody 
in  his  characteristic  way,  inquired  if  it  was  my  brother, 
Rev.  E.  S.  Ufford,  who  wrote  ''Throw  out  the  life-line." 

In  assenting,  he  rephed:  "Good!  let  us  have  it  now — 
Mr.  Sankey  you  sing  the  solo  and  we  will  all  join  in  the 
chorus."  Thus  for  the  first  time,  by  such  an  audience, 
I  listened  to  the  singing  of  my  brother's  song. 

He  has  assisted  us  in  throwing  the  hne  in  behalf  of 
this  cause  of  our  Master,  by  securing,  from  time  to  time, 
funds  for  its  needs. 


BTANLY  HALI, 


11 


Having  secured  in  cash  and  pledges  nearly  one  thou- 
sand dollars,  before  returning  South,  in  the  fall  of  1890, 
with  Miss  C.  F.  Glover  of  Camden,  Me.,  a  Mt.  Holyoke 
graduate,  as  associate,  we  entered  this  Macedonian  field. 
The  school  thus  founded  was  named  ''Stanly  Hall,"  to 
designate  the  county.  Twenty  boys  were  received  as 
boarders.  Their  ages  ranged  from  twelve  to  twenty- 
one  years.    We  also  had  a  large  day  school  for  both  sexes. 

Rev.  Mr.  Anderson,  already  mentioned,  told  us  that 
he  had  preached  forty  sermons  in  the  county  without  hav- 
ing one  conversion.  The  school  had  been  in  operation 
but  three  weeks,  when  one  young  man  decided  for  Christ. 
He  did  so  on  his  way  home  from  church  one  Sabbath  even- 
ing, after  listening  to  a  stirring  Gospel  sermon,  by  Mr. 
Anderson.  On  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  he  received  from 
us  a  personal  note,  urging  him  to  make  the  decision.  The 
influences  of  both  church  and  school  cooperated  in  win- 
ning souls  for  Christ,  many  from  time  to  time,  being  added 
to  the  church. 

We  found  that  intemperance  and  immorality,  as  well 
as  illiteracy  were  rife  in  this  county.  We  were  told  that 
it  contained  ninety  distilleries. 

One  man  owned  a  ''still,"  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
school.  It  had  ruined  hundreds  of  men.  With  the  aid  of 
a  lawyer,  we  were  able  to  have  the  school  incorporated, 
which  prohibited  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  within  a 
radius  of  two  miles  from  us.  This  victory  was  hailed  with 
joy  by  our  young  people — who  hitherto  had  been  indifferent 
toward  this  great  evil  in  their  midst.  Now  they  saw  work 
to  do. 

For  young  souls  to  dwell  in  view  of  golden  opportuni- 
ties is  at  once  inspiring.  You  may  call  these  occasions 
emergencies,  but  I  call  them  opportunities.  If  we  live 
in  expectation  of  them,  then  it  leads  to  looking  for  them. 
And  they  who  look  for  opportunities  will  know  them  when 
they  come. 

Another  Link 

Allow  us  to  revert  to  the  first  link  in  the  chain  of 
events  which  resulted  from  our  visit  to  Northfield, 


12 


We  were  awaiting  the  train  the  day  following  the  close 
of  conference,  when  a  lady  who  heard  us  tell  the  story, 
asked  us  how  much  we  needed  to  complete  our  Stanly  Hall 
building.  Learning  that  thirty  dollars  was  all  we  then 
had,  she  said  she  would  send  us  a  check  for  fifty  dollars, 
which  she  did  soon  afterward.  This  good  friend  proved 
to  be  Miss  Sarah  E.  Gilbert  of  Utica,  N.  Y. 

CHAPTER  IV 
More  Vacation  Addresses 

THE  following  year  while  on  a  visit  to  Washington,  D.C., 
the  writer  was  invited  by  the  women  of  the  Presbyter- 
ial  Society  to  tell  of  the  results  of  the  White  Hall  School, 
and  Mission.  After  hearing  of  what  had  been  accomplished 
the  society  at  once  generously  voted  to  donate  the  two 
thousand  dollars  then  in  their  treasury  for  the  proposed 
Laura  Sunderland  Memorial  School."  Our  first  White 
Hall  building  had  been  burned  in  1891. 


LAURA  SUNDERLAND  SCHOOL 

This  school  was  founded  during  that  year.  It  was 
named  for  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Sunderland  of  Washington, 
D.  C,  who  was  a  most  consecrated  Christian  worker 


1^ 


before  being  called  from  her  earthly  labors.  The  school  was 
located  two  miles  from  the  first  White  Hall  School,  and  in 
full  view  of  the  town.  The  first  workers  appointed  by 
the  Northern  Board  were  Professor  and  Mrs.  Green,  of 
Western  New  York,  and  they  did  the  first  work  in  build- 
ing up  the  institution.  The  Northern  Board  in  New  York 
is  still  in  control  of  this  work,  and  Miss  Melissa  Montgom- 
ery has  served  as  prinripal  for  a  long  term  of  years.  Grand 
results  have  been  achieved,  many  girls  having  graduated 
from  the  school  with  high  honors.  About  thirty  acres  of 
land  for  the  site  of  this  school  were  donated  by  a  Southern 
friend  resident  at  Concord. 

After  the  destruction  of  the  first  school  building  by 
fire,  the  late  Mr.  A.  Parker,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  visited  the 
school.  The  result  was  the  rebuilding  of  the  edifice  by 
this  good  friend.  He  erected  a  two-story  building  with 
recitation  rooms  and  dormitories  for  teachers,  also  for 
twelve  girls  as  boarders.  He  built  also,  a  one-story  cot- 
tage for  use  as  a  dining-room  and  kitchen.  This  building 
was  known  as  Parker  Hall,  and  by  means  of  which,  good 
work  was  accomplished.  For  a  number  of  years  a  day 
school  has  been  taught  at  this  old  first  site  in  this  building. 

Following  the  death  of  this  kind  donor,  and  the  trans- 
ference of  the  property  from  the  Northern  to  the  Southern 
Board,  the  former  name  of  White  Hall  was  reassumed.  For 
25  years,  Mr.  White  conducted  the  Sabbath  School  there, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  a  self-supporting  day  school 
has  been  in  operation. 

Other  good  friends — the  Misses  Masters  of  Dobbs 
Ferry,  N.  Y.,  (who  have  been  in  touch  with  this  work  in 
connection  with  the  schools,  and  since  its  inception)  have 
proved  an  untold  inspiration  and  help  to  us. 

Through  the  young  ladies  of  their  school  a  fine  mission- 
ary horse  was  provided  us.  It  came  about  in  this  way: 
The  suggestion  was  made  that  a  fine  be  imposed  for  each 
slang  word  used  by  any  member.  In  less  than  two  weeks 
$35  were  in  hand  towards  the  horse;  the  rest  of  the  amount 
followed  soon  after.  At  the  request  of  the  school  we 
named  the  horse  ''Dobbs".    It  has  been  our  pleasure  to 


14 


visit  this  famous  school  from  time  to  time,  and  speak  of 
the  progress  of  our  work.  One  of  the  King's  Daughter 
Circles,  the  ''Helpful  Ten/'  has  wrought  for  our  schools 
many  years. 

Thus  as  we  continued  in  this  glorious  cause,  its  multi- 
plied possibilities  dawned  on  our  vision  with  sublime  out- 
look. And  so,  what  is  the  watchword  of  life  to  the  one 
who  seeks  for  success?    The  poet  states  it  well : 

''I  slept,  and  dreamed  that  life  was  Beauty; 
I  woke  and  found  that  life  was  Duty." 


CHAPTER  V 
Needy  Girls 

TO  return  to  the  Stanly  Hall  School  at  Locust  Level. 
From  its  first  year,  God  added  His  blessing.  A  number 
the  boys,  also  of  the  day  pupils,  were  truly  converted  and 
confessed  Christ  as  their  Saviour.  Soon  after  entering  this 
very  needy  field,  however,  my  heart  was  pained  in  noting 
the  neglect  of  the  poor  girls.  It  was  not  considered  neces- 
sary by  many  of  the  parents  that  they  should  be  educated. 
If  either  could  be  sent  to  school  the  boys  must  go.  The 
cotton  fields  were  the  girls'  domain. 

So  burdened  was  I,  in  seeing  the  hundreds  of  girls 
going  down  to  ruin,  for  the  need  of  Christian  training  and 
education,  that  I  again  appealed  to  the  Board  for  permis- 
sion to  plant  at  Albemarle,  the  county  seat  of  Stanly,  and 
sixteen  miles  distant  from  Locust  Level,  a  school  for  girls. 
At  the  same  time  I  asked  them  to  appoint  a  gentleman  and 
his  wife  to  succeed  me  in  taking  charge  of  the  Stanly  Hall 
School.     (See  picture  on  page  10) 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  A.  H.  Temple  of  Sparta,  111.,  were  ap- 
pointed for  the  field,  entering  it  in  '93. 

The  Board,  however,  could  see  no  way  open  to  plant  the 
school  at  Albemarle,  so  that  I  remained  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Temple  for  that  year. 

Through  another  providential  occurrence,  I  secured 
two  consecrated  young  women  to  be  ready  to  go  to  Albe- 


15 


marie  (if  I  could  obtain  a  building)  as  teachers  for  a  day 
school.  This  project  was  accomplished,  and  they  went 
there,  where  they  taught  a  successful  school  one  year,  while 
I  was  finishing  my  work  at  Locust  Level.  One  of  these 
was  a  native  of  Iowa,  an  accomplished  teacher.  The 
other  was  from  one  of  the  finest  families  in  the  South,  and 
one  of  our  estimable  girls  at  the  Asheville  School. 

On  finishing  the  course  of  study  there,  this  young 
woman  went  to  Chicago  and  entered  Mrs.  Myers'  Bible 
Training  School.  It  was  there  she  met  her  friend  from 
Iowa  and  they  were  both  engaged  for  some  time,  in  New 
York  City  mission  work.  My  first  step  taken  at  Albe- 
marle was  the  purchase  of  an  unused  public  schoolhouse 
with  one  acre  of  land,  which  I  bought  for  $300.  The  money 
came  from  four  friends  in  the  North.  One  hundred  pupils 
were  in  attendance  at  this  first  day-school  at  Albemarle. 

At  the  close  of  the  Locust  Level  School  I  resigned 
from  the  Board,  feeling  sure  that  our  Father  would  have 
me  go  forward  and  trust  Him  for  the  needed  funds  for 
Albemarle.  The  summer  of  '93  was  spent  at  the  North. 
Contributions  were  received,  and  new  friends  rallied  about 
me.  Returning  South,  I  rented  a  house,  and  received  three 
girls  as  boarders,  who  were  eager  to  be  educated.  With  an 
assistant  teacher  we  continued  thus  teaching  the  day- 
school,  until  the  summer  of  '97  when  most  providentially 
the  dear  Lord  provided  a  superior  helper  in  the  person  of 
Miss  H.  J.  Northrup  of  Minneapolis.  She  had  gone  to  the 
Cumberland  Mountains  at  Grassy  Cove,  Tenn.,  for  her 
health. 

Learning  from  a  friend  who  was  a  teacher  at  the  Par- 
ker Hall  School,  near  Concord,  that  we  were  trying  to 
found  a  girls'  boarding  school  at  Albemarle,  she  wrote  us 
offering  her  services  which  we  most  gladly  accepted.  Pre- 
vious to  this,  I  was  obliged  to  secure  the  money  for  the 
teachers'  salaries.  Here,  then,  was  one  given  with  a  small 
income,  who  could  donate  her  services.  For  seven  years 
she  put  her  time,  talents  and  means  into  the  work,  accom- 
plishing great  good  by  her  self-denying  labors,  in  teaching 
and  in  moulding  the  lives  of  our  girls. 


16 


The  princfipal  business  men  of  the  town  had  told  me 
that  if  I  would  erect  a  good  building  on  the  beautiful  site 
shown  us,  they  would  donate  four  acres  of  land  for  it.  At 
once,  on  being  joined  by  my  new  helper,  I  disclosed  to  her 
the  desire  and  plan — to  erect  on  the  proposed  site  or  near  it, 
a  temporary  house.  She  heartily  coincided  with  me,  and 
the  first  step  taken  was  the  purchase  for  fifty  dollars  of  two 
acres  of  land,  at  this  beautiful,  elevated  and  retired  site,  a 
short  distance  from  the  town,  Miss  Northrup  making  this 
donation  from  her  private  funds.  I  had  been  able  to 
secure  but  four  hundred  dollars.  With  this  small  amount 
quite  a  rude  structure  was  cheaply  erected.  Happy  to  be 
done  with  paying  rent,  we  gladly  moved  into  our  own  new 
home  in  January,  1896.  Ten  girls  were  received  as  board- 
ers, and  were  taught  at  the  day-schoolhouse  with  day 
pupils. 

In  1900  a  Graded  School  was  provided  for  the  town. 
I  sold  my  day  school  building  with  its  improvements,  for 
four  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars. 


I 


ALBEMARLE  SCHOOL  BUILDING 

In  1901  we  built  an  addition  to  the  first  four-hundred 
dollar  home,  applying  towards  its  erection  the  above 
amount.  Extra  funds  for  it  were  obtained.  While  not 
quite  as  large  as  the  first  house  it  was  constructed  with 
better  material.  In  1903  a  tower  addition  was  made  to 
the  new  annex. 


17 


This  afforded  a  class  room,  and  rooms  above  for  an 
additional  number  of  girls. 

During  the  summer,  a  much  needed  laundry  building 
was  erected.  This  was  made  possible  by  a  bequest  of  one 
thousand  dollars  left  our  school  by  the  late  Mrs.  Mary 
Minot,  of  So.  Orange,  N.  J.  The  first  poorly  constructed 
building  was  improved  and  remodeled  by  use  of  this  timely 
gift.  The  entire  property  cost  $2500.  Thanks  to  many 
kind  donors,  no  debt  rested  upon  it,  and  for  twenty  years, 
has  stood  as  a  monument  to  God's  goodness  and  His  never 
failing  promises.  It  can  be  seen  several  miles  distant  on 
approaching  the  town.  As  we  gaze  upon  it,  recalling  our 
toils  and  prayers  of  ten  years,  we  can  only  exclaim,  ''What 
hath  God  wrought?"  Is  this  not  true  of  all  humble  be- 
ginnings? As  Sidney  Smith  used  to  say:  ''No  man  can 
end  with  being  superior  who  will  not  begin  with  being 
inferior. " 


CHAPTER  VI 
Future  Prospects 

IT  was  our  desire  that  this  work  should  be  established 
on  a  sound  basis.  The  Northern  Board  felt  unable  to 
assume  the  care  of  it.  However,  the  Southern  Presbyter- 
ian Church,  whose  territory  of  missionary  operations  in- 
cluded Stanly  county,  was  able  to  do  so.  The  Mecklen- 
burg Presbytery  adopted  measures  for  its  further  enlarge- 
ment. Money  was  raised  for  three  additional  acres  of 
land.  The  first  two  acres  cost  $50.  Seven  years  later  we 
paid  $75.  for  three  additional  acres.  We  then  started  a 
subscription  paper  among  our  friends  at  the  North  and  in 
the  South,  securing  in  this  way,  the  first  thousand  dollars 
towards  the  larger  brick  building,  which  was  erected 
and  completed  in  1907.  Just  here  we  cannot  refrain  from 
mentioning  our  most  loyal  and  liberal  donor  to  this  build- 
ing— the  late  Mr.  A.  C.  Trowbridge,  of  East  Orange,  N.  J. 
He  made  it  possible  for  us  to  enjoy  the  happiest  Thanks- 
giving Day  of  our  lives.  It  was  by  a  telegram  received 
from  him  on  that  day,  stating  that  he  had  secured  from  his 


18 


business  friends  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  brick 
building.  He  and  his  brother,  Mr.  C.  A.  Trowbridge  were 
among  the  liberal  donors  of  this  amount.  During  the  ten 
years  at  Albemarle  in  which  I  worked  without  salary, 
trusting  our  God  for  the  supply  of  the  needs  of  the  work, 
as  also  for  my  own,  many  and  blessed  have  been  the  direct 
answers  to  prayer. 

For  all  these  tokens  of  His  love  and  care,  showing 
that  the  scihool  was  of  His  own  planting,  I  can  never  cease 
praising  Him.  My  favorite  verse  will  fittingly  close  this 
chapter — Philippians  4:19,  ^'But  my  God  shall  supply 
all  your  need  according  to  His  riches  in  glory  by  Christ 
Jesus. " 

''What  is  my  being  but  for  thee, — 
Its  sure  support,  its  noblest  end? 
'Tis  my  delight  thy  face  to  see. 


'O  show  a  few  of  the  results  of  the  efforts  directed  by 


^  different  workers  in  the  different  schools  during  the 
twenty-five  years,  we  append  the  following  incidents: 

A  girl  of  eight  years  entered  the  White  Hall  School 
in  '82  soon  afterward  being  converted  there. 

Very  often,  after  her  conversion,  did  this  dear  girl  ap- 
proach us  in  tears,  begging  us  to  pray  for  her  poor  father. 
She  was  the  granddaughter  of  the  man  who  had  been  a 
drunkard  forty  years,  when  we  entered  our  first  field.  He 
is  the  man  whom  we  previously  mentioned,  as  having  been 
converted  after  our  twenty-five  years  of  united  pleading 
in  his  behalf.  Her  mother  who  died  when  she  was  small, 
was  an  intelligent  and  fine  looking  woman.  The  girl  was 
very  pretty  and  interesting.  By  permission  of  the  Board, 
and  the  father's  consent,  I  took  her  to  Asheville.    At  the 


And  serve  the  cause  of  such  a  Friend. 


CHAPTER  VII 


Some  of  The  Graduates 


19 

school  there,  she  was  trained  as  a  Kindergarten  teacher. 
In  the  mountain  schools,  under   the  Northern  Board,  she 


GRADUATES  TRAINED  FOR  SERVICE 

assisted  for  three  years,  Miss  Frances  Goodrich  of  New 
York,  who  has  done,  and  is  still  doing  splendid  work  for 
the  Mountaineers. 

This  young  woman,  our  interesting  girl,  was  then 
sent  by  the  Board,  to  the  "Henry  Kendall  College"  at 
Muskogee,  Ind.  Ter.  There  she  taught  four  years  with 
great  success.  Meeting  soon  afterward  a  young  lawyer 
from  South  Carolina,  a  mutual  attachment  was  formed, 
and  they  were  married  at  the  home  of  the  College  Presi- 
dent. The  wedding  was  an  impressive  and  attractive  one, 
from  many  points  of  view.  The  wedding  trip  was  to 
Manitou  Springs,  Col.  The  husband  is  a  Christian  man, 
and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  also  a 
talented  lawyer.  This  dear  girl  has  frequently  written 
me  expressing  her  appreciation  of  the  help  received  at 
''dear  old  White  Hall,"  and  that  had  it  not  been  for  the 
training  received  she  could  not  have  been  and  done  all 
which  she  has  for  our  dear  Master.  Her  father  thanked 
us  again  and  again  for  the  education  which  we  gave  her. 


20 


Another  poor  little  girl  of  ten  years  was  also  received 
at  the  White  Hall  School.  She  was  an  orphan,  and  home- 
less. She  possessed  an  uncontrollable  temper.  Often 
did  she  tell  the  teachers  that  she  might  as  well  be  sent 
away,  as  she  could  not  overcome  it.  Patiently  we  bore 
with  her,  pleading  for  her  conversion.  God  heard,  and  she 
was  saved.  I  took  her,  also,  to  Asheville.  She  developed 
a  talent  for  nursing.  Having  finished  the  prescribed  course 
of  study  at  the  home  industrial  and  normal  schools,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pease  sent  her  to  Orange,  N.  J.  In  a  few  years 
she  graduated  as  a  trained  nurse  from  the  training  school 
there.  She  won  splendid  success  in  her  profession  in  that 
city.  One  of  the  best  physicians  said  of  her  that  she  was 
the  finest  surgical  nurse  in  the  state.  During  one  year  she 
earned  and  saved  a  thousand  dollars. 

At  one  time  she  was  engaged  to  a  young  man  pre- 
paring to  go  as  a  missionary  to  India.  This  engagement 
was  broken,  and  she  joined  the  Red  Cross  Society. 

She  went  to  Chickamauga,  during  the  Spanish  Ameri- 
can war,  and  did  good  service.  Later  she  was  to  have  gone 
with  Clara  Barton  to  the  front,  but  was  eleven  hours  too 
late  to  join  the  party.  A  few  months  later  our  heroine 
went  out  to  Montana  to  visit  a  nurse  friend  who  had 
married  there.  She  met  and  married  the  man  of  her 
choice.  She  wrote  of  her  supreme  happiness  with  this 
man — the  dearest  she  could  have  found  had  she  searched 
the  world  over. 

Did  space  permit,  mention  could  be  made  of  scores  of 
other  girls,  now  filling  good  positions  in  different  callings, 
and  of  others,  in  homes  of  their  own,  some  of  whose  children 
have  graduated  from  the  different  schools  planted.  Of 
many  can  it  be  said  to  God's  eternal  praise  that  this  and 
that  one  was  born  again  within  the  walls  of  the  old  White 
Hall  Seminary. 

The  same  can  be  said  of  the  Laura  Sunderland  School, 
the  daughter  of  White  Hall.  Very  many  girls  have  been 
saved  and  trained,  in  that  grand  institution  through  the 
tireless  energy  of  its  principal  Miss  Melissa  Montgomery 
and  her  able  assistants. 


21 


A  Polished  Gem 

We  must  make  especial  mention  of  one  other  poor 
orphan  girl  whom  we  found  at  Locust  Level  She  was 
plowing  in  the  fields  for  those  with  whom  she  lived  and  was 
about  fifteen  years  of  age.  In  her  poverty  and  homeless 
condition,  little  was  it  dreamed  of  the  latent  powers  which 
dwelt  within  her,  afterwards  to  be  developed  and  used  so 
mightily  for  God.  She  came  to  us  appealing  for  assistance 
to  enable  her  to  enter  the  ''White  Hall  School,"  sixteen 
miles  distant.  We  fitted  her  out  with  a  suitable  wardrobe 
and  sent  her  there  in  1890.  The  man  who  took  her  told 
the  teachers  he  had  brought  a  girl  from  Stanly  county. 
She  corrected  him  by  saying,  ''No,  I'm  from  North  Caro- 
lina. "  Never  entered  the  door  of  White  Hall  Seminary  a 
girl  with  greater  ambition  to  learn  and  to  know  God  than 
this  one.  She  made  remarkable  progress  in  study  and  in 
the  Christian  life.  When  the  building  was  burned  in  '91, 
she  was  transferred  to  the  Laura  Sunderland  school.  There 


HER  FIRST  SCHOOL  AT  CONCORD,  N.  C. 

she  made  still  greater  progress.  On  finishing  the  course  of 
study  and  graduating  from  that  school,  she  was  able  to 
teach  during  the  vacation,  thus  assisting  herself  in  that 


22 


way.  In  the  fall  of  '86  she  entered  the  normal  and  Colleg- 
iate Institute  at  Asheville,  graduating  several  years  later. 
Ten  years  of  excellent  instruction  in  all  branches  of  in- 
dustry taught,  as  also  the  means  of  culture,  proved  an  un- 
told blessing  to  this  ambitious,  consecrated,  Christian  girl. 

Her  second  school  was  taught  a  few  miles  from  Ashe- 
ville.  A  part  of  the  time  she  was  assisted  by  her  brother, 
Jackson  Smith,  one  of  our  Stanly  Hall  boys.  The  school 
was  a  success  and  proved  a  powerful  factor  in  the  trans- 
formation of  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  was  located. 
This  dear  young  woman  possessed  the  rare  gifts  of  tact  and 
common  sense.  She  organized  a  Christian  Endeavor 
Society  for  the  older  pupils  of  her  school.  Their  Christmas 
exercises  were  broken  up  by  an  intoxicated  man,  who 
proved  to  be  a  lawyer  of  much  talent.  Soon  afterward  he 
called  upon  these  two  young  workers,  and  apologized  for 
his  conduct,  which  showed  the  true  spirit  of  Southern 
chivalry.  Expressing  his  desire  to  live  a  different  life, 
and  for  their  prayers  and  help  in  doing  so,  they  took  their 
Bibles  and  read  to  him  some  of  God's  promises.  Follow- 
ing the  reading  of  the  word  with  earnest  prayer  for  the 
fettered  man,  they  had  the  joy  of  seeing  him  accept  Christ 
as  his  Saviour.  He  renounced  his  cups  and  is  now  living 
an  exemplary  Christian  life,  being  one  of  their  warm  sup- 
porters. 

In  1901  our  young  heroine  entered  a  new  field.  She 
was  sent  by  the  Northern  Presbyterian  Board  to  Little 
Pine  Creek,  Yancy  County,  near  Marshall,  N.  C.  She 
received  a  salary  of  $300.00.  For  three  years  she  labored 
in  this  mountain  cove,  most  assiduously  and  marvelous 
have  been  the  results  of  her  efforts.  Through  her  earnest 
petitions  a  gentleman  of  means  erected  a  new  school  build- 
ing and  chapel  combined,  in  memory  of  his  wife,  and  which 
is  known  as  the  ^'McDivitt  Memorial  Chapel."  Over  one 
hundred  children  of  the  mountaineers  were  gathered  in  and 
taught  by  this  consecrated  young  woman  the  first  year, 
and  with  an  assistant  afterward.  So  speedy  were  the 
results  of  her  work  that  the  attention  of  school  superin- 
tendents and  others  were  called  to  it.    When  visiting  her 


^3 


school  they  wondered  with  amazement  at  the  progress  of 
her  pupils  and  she  was  able  to  prepare  several  of  them  for 
entering  the  schools  at  Asheville.  But  the  spiritual  part  of 
her  work  was  truly  more  wonderful — in  the  Sabbath  school 
and  in  the  homes  of  the  people,  as  she  endeared  herself  to 
them  in  cases  of  sickness  and  death.  One  man  whipped  his 
wife  and  sent  her  away  from  home.    The  query  was, 

^'What  will  Miss  S          say?"    One  good  man  was  so 

aroused  that  he  went  to  this  wife-beater,  and  gave  him  a 
sound  thrashing,  took  the  wife  back  home  and  made  him 
promise  to  respect  her  in  fututre.  All  awaited  the  verdict 
of  Miss  S  .    She  gave  hearty  approval  of  the  course 


MISS  S- 


adopted,  and  thereafter  everything  was  lovely  and  peace- 
ful. Thus  through  her  influence  and  the  high  esteem  in 
which  she  was  held  by  the  people,  the  wife-beating  ceased. 
Drinking  and  gambling  also,  for  not  a  drop  of  whiskey  was 
made  after  she  went  among  them.    The  feuds  which  ex- 


24 


isted  all  disappeared,  and  no  pastor  in  those  mountains 
had  more  influence  than  had  this  young  woman. 

The  reader  may  be  interested  to  know  that  this  lo- 
cality of  which  we  are  writing  was  nearly  two  hundred 
miles  from  her  birthplace.  Imagine  the  log  cabin — a  room 
of  12x12  feet  in  which  this  plucky  woman  first  saw  the 
light,  and  we  are  led  to  exclaim,  ^'God  hath  chosen  the 
weak  things  and  those  that  are  despised — to  confound  the 
mighty!"  This  dear  young  worker  has  told  me  that  she 
never  remembered  the  time  when  she  did  not  love  God  and 
long  to  be  and  do  something  for  Him.  Truly  her  longings 
have  been  fulfilled. 

On  page  21  is  a  cut  showing  her  with  her  first  pupils, 
taught  at  Concord,  N.  C.,  Page  23  a  picture  of  her  in  her 
graduating  dress.  In  contrasting  the  two,  it  will  be  seen 
what  a  change  can  be  wrought  in  the  countenance  through 
training  and  culture. 

This  enthusiastic  student  was  actuated  by  a  strong 
sense  of  love  to  God  and  love  for  souls.  She  was  not  con- 
tent to  do  anything  save  her  whole  duty.  When  Count 
von  Moltke,  field  marshal  of  the  German  army,  who  was 
called  the  General  Grant  of  the  German  Empire,  had 
returned  from  his  great  military  triumphs  of  Sadowa, 
there  seemed  to  be  no  limit  to  the  honors  a  grateful  people 
bestowed  upon  him,  from  the  King,  down  to  the  humblest 
peasant,  and  in  reply  he  said,  ''I  have  only  done  my  duty. " 


CHAPTER  VIII 
Stanly  County  Diamonds  In  The  Rough 

WE  pass  on  again  to  Stanly  Hall,  Locust  Level,  to 
introduce  a  few  other  results  among  the  boys  re- 
ceived there  during  four  years.  We  have  made  mention  of 
the  brother  of  this  girl  just  alluded  to.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  boys  to  enter ''Stanly  Hall",  and  the  first  convert  to 
unite  with  the  little  ''Beulah  Presbyterian  Church"  near 
the  school;  a  number  of  years  later  he  was  elected  as  one 
of  its  deacons. 


25 


After  the  destruction  by  fire  in  '94,  of  our  school  build- 
ing, which  we  grieve  to  note,  this  boy,  with  others  of  the 
twenty  students  as  boarders,  was  transferred  to  the  Boys' 
Farm  School  near  Asheville.  From  there  he  entered  Mary- 
ville  College,  Tennessee,  graduating  with  honors. 

Our  hero  then  entered  the  Presbyterian  Theological 
Seminary  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  from  which  he  graduated 
two  years  ago.  He  is  now  pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  church 
at  Marshall,  N,  C,  a  mountain  field — and  doing  splendid 
work.  His  sister,  when  hearing  the  news  of  her  brother 
having  been  chosen  as  pastor's  assistant  for  the  Little  Pine 
Creek  field,  her  first  one — caused  her  for  very  joy  to  pass 
two   sleepless  nights. 

Another  interesting  case  worthy  of  mention,  is  of  a 
poor  orphan  boy,  seemingly  of  little  promise  for  the  future, 
but  who  received  lasting  impressions  at  dear  old  Stanly 
Hall.  Leaving  us  to  seek  his  fortune,  after  studying  for 
one  year,  he  acquired  some  knowledge  of  carpentry.  He 
later  went  to  Florida.  He  was  given  work  on  one  of  the 
large  hotels  in  process  of  erection.  Of  his  first  money 
earned,  he  sent  us  two  dollars — one  to  be  used  for  our 
temperance  work,  the  other  for  our  Mission  Band.  His 
wicked  companions  tried  to  induce  him  to  drink  with  them. 
On  one  occasion  the  bottle  was  raised  to  his  lips.  He 
remembered  his  pledge  taken  at  Stanly  Hall,  and  had  the 
courage  to  desist  and  say  '^No."  Our  brave  boy  con- 
tinued to  wear  his  badge  and  remain  firm  for  the  right. 

One  evening  he  was  moved  by  hearing  the  strains  of 
martial  music  and  the  drum.  Reaching  the  street,  he 
found  it  to  proceed  from  the  Salvation  Army  meeting.  So 
interested  did  he  become  in  it,  that  he  joined  the  army  and 
went  out  to  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  where  he  did  good 
work  with  this  organization.  He  led  many  lost  souls  into 
the  Kingdom.  Feeling  the  need  of  a  more  thorough  edu- 
cation, our  hero  entered  a  college  at  Austinburg,  0.  Fin- 
ishing the  course  of  study  there  he  entered  ''Grant  Uni- 
versity" in  Tennessee,  where  he  graduated  with  honors. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  a  successful  minister 


26 


of  the  Methodist  church  in  a  western  town  and  with  his 
faithful  wife  accomplished  great  good. 

Before  closing  our  present  chapter  we  will  mention 
one  other  remarkable  case.  It  is  that  of  a  poor  cruelly 
treated  boy  of  about  twelve  years.  His  father  and  step- 
mother belonged  to  the  lowest  class  of  whites. 

The  boy  came  to  us  in  the  garb  represented,  in  the  ac- 
companying picture — wearing  his  father's  cast  off  coat  and 
pants.  He  had  run  away  from  home.  Our  hearts  were 
stirred  to  their  depths  as  he  appeared  at  our  door  begging 
for  admission  and  saying:  ''Please  missus,  let  me  stay 
here  with  you.  I'll  work  hard  and  do  anything  for  you 
if  you'll  only  let  me  stay."  Having  as  helper  a  young 
man  who  could  take  pictures,  the  camera  was  the  first 
means  used  in  his  behalf. 


ALLICK  AS  HE  WAS  AND  IS 


The  next  humane  steps  taken  were  the  shears,  the 
bathtub  and  the  bonfire.  We  found  fortunately  in  our 
store-room,  a  suit  of  clothes,  also  shoes,  which  proved  an 
exact  fit  for  the  boy. 


27 


We  cannot  forget  his  look  of  surprise  as  he  gazed  into 
the  mirror  at  the  close  of  the  process  through  which  he 
had  passed,  and  beheld  the  transformation  in  his  appearance. 
What  a  blessed  repayment  was  ours  in  having  thus  rescued 
one  of  Christ's  little  ones — of  whom  it  is  said,  ''Take  heed 
that  ye  despise  not  one  of  these  little  ones."    Matt.  18-10. 

The  heartless  father  let  us  have  the  boy  for  ten  dol- 
lars. After  teaching  him  to  read  and  write  well,  at  our 
Stanly  Hall  School,  we  sent  him  to  the  ''Home  for  Little 
Wanderers"  at  Boston.  In  the  picture,  you  now  see  him 
as  he  appeared  after  six  months'  training  in  that  institu- 
tion. He  was  soon  after  adopted  by  a  lady  in  Nova 
Scotia.  In  his  new  home  he  has  become  an  excellent 
farmer  and  a  good,  useful  man. 

If  given  a  chance,  who  can  tell  but  what  many  of  these 
poor  boys  may  not  tread  the  same  path  of  achievement  as 
numberless  others  have  done  in  reaching  the  goal  of  their 
worthy  ambitions? 

To  the  lad  who  aspires  to  rise  to  some  noble  calling  in 
life,  let  him  read  the  lives  of  poor  boys  in  America  and  how 
they  became  great.  Sixty  years  ago  a  Scotch  boy  emigrated 
with  his  parents  to  Pittsburg,  and  settled  there.  He  was 
then  penniless,  but  with  the  few  privileges  allotted  him, 
he  rose  to  become  the  famous  Andrew  Carnegie  whom  the 
world  can  never  forget. 

The  Boys'  Farm  School,  located  eight  miles  from  Ashe- 
ville,  was  founded  by  the  Northern  Presbyterian  Board  in 
1892.  It  has  already  accomplished  untold  good  in  finding 
the  mountain  boys  and  educating  and  training  them  for 
good  citizens.  This  grand  school  is  destined  to  reach 
hundreds  more  of  "the  roughest  of  rough  diamonds" — 
these  boys  of  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  who  have  but 
"one  inevitable  aim — to  learn." 

Just  here,  we  wish  to  state  that  our  Southern  Presby- 
terian church  is  accomplishing  splendid  work  through  the 
number  of  grand  schools  in  the  mountain  sections  now 
planted  for  both  girls  and  boys. 


28 


CHAPTER  IX 
The  Mustard  Seed  Increases 

RETURNING  once  more  to  Locust  Level,  we  will  state 
that  one  building  escaped  the  fire,  and  the  insurance  for 
full  value  of  the  main  building  was  secured  by  the  Board  in 
New  York.  The  two-story  house  was  converted  into  a 
day-school  building.  A  few  years  subsequently,  the  Board 
by  our  advice,  transferred  the  property  consisting  of  sixty- 
two  acres  of  land,  what  buildings  remained,  also  seven 
hundred  dollars  in  cash,  to  the  Southern  Mecklenburg 
Presbytery.  Near  the  site  of  the  first  building  was  erected 
a  cottage  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Temple  our  successors,  also  an 
addition  to  the  school  building  for  the  primary  depart- 
ment. Mr.  Temple  having  become  an  ordained  minister, 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Beulah  Presbyterian  church 
there.  He  and  his  faithful  companion  accomplished  a 
blessed  work  in  that  needy  field  among  the  children  and 
people  for  a  number  of  years. 

Nearly  one  hundred  boys  and  girls  have  been  in  at- 
tendance at  the  day-school  each  year.  The  Presbytery  is 
hoping  to  found  there  in  the  near  future  an  industrial  school 
for  boys. 


AT  OUR  ALBEMARLE  SCHOOL 

we  are  being  able  to  reach  each  year  more  of  the  class  of 
girls  who  will  be  able,  after  the  training  received,  to  do 


29 


splendid  work  as  teachers  and  missionaries  among  their 
own  class.  At  our  commencement  exercises  in  1904,  two 
of  our  girls,  one  a  boarding,  the  other  a  day  pupil,  finished 
the  prescribed  course  of  study,  being  the  first  to  graduate. 
The  boarding  pupil  was  the  brightest  girl  yet  received  in 
our  home.  Her  essay  of  thirty-eight  pages  on  ''The  Turks " 
attested  to  her  talent  possessed,  also  reflecting  much  credit 
on  her  training  by  Miss  Northrup,  my  co-worker,  and  who 
wrought  so  faithfully  for  a  number  of  years  until  her  fail- 
ing health  necessitated  her  retirement  from  active  service. 
Of  her  own  private  income  she  placed  $500.00  to  the  credit 
of  the  work,  $200.00  of  the  amount  being  used  in  the  pur- 
chase of  the  first  two  acres  of  land.  Later  the  Presbytery 
purchased  three  additional  acres. 

President  Atkinson  assumed  the  charge  of  the  work  8 
years  ago.  The  eldest  young  woman  of  the  graduating 
class  has  signified  her  intention  to  go  to  Korea  as  a  mission- 
ary, after  having  completed  the  Nurses'  Training  Course 
at  the  Presbyterian  Hospital,  Charlotte,  N.  C.  As  was 
said  by  the  Sainted  Spurgeon:  ''He  who  wins  a  soul  draws 
water  from  the  fountain;  but  he  who  makes  a  soul-winner 
digs  a  well  from  which  many  may  drink  unto  eternal  life." 

Each  succeeding  year  from  the  planting  of  the  first 
school  at  Albemarle,  the  county  seat  of  Stanly  County,  in 
1894,  wonderful  progress  has  been  noted,  the  greatest 
and  most  encouraging  being  realized  at  the  last  commence- 
ment exercises  in  May,  1914.  Nine  seniors  of  the  College 
Preparatory  Class  graduated  with  honors,  also  three  girls 
from  the  Commercial  Course.  Each  of  these  students  did 
so  with  credit  to  the  school  and  their  faithful  instructors. 

Rev.  George  H.  Atkinson,  President  of  the  Institute, 
has  wrought  faithfully  to  make  of  the  institution  a  success, 
and  of  the  faculty  secured  by  him,  none  others  could  have 
exceeded  them,  in  the  faithful  and  thorough  instruction 
given  our  students. 

The  eldest  young  woman  of  the  College  Preparatory 
class  has  signified  her  intention  to  go  as  a  missionary  to 
Korea,  after  having  completed  the  Nurses'  Training  Course 
at  the  Presbyterian  Hospital,  Charlotte,  N.  C, 


30 


In  closing  this  account  of  our  thirty-five  years'  of 
effort,  we  wish  to  mention  one  more  of  our  dear  Master's 
leadings.  In  1912-13,  we  felt  divinely  led  to  start  a  Per- 
petual Memorial  Scholarship  Fund,  for  the  benefit  of  our 
poorest  girls. 

We  did  so,  and  feel  encouraged  with  the  results  thus 
far  secured.  We  now  have  $700.00  toward  the  Fund,  but 
are  anxious  to  receive  more  shares  and  of  any  amounts, 
from  the  friends  of  our  work.  Celebrating,  this  year, 
our  35th  anniversary  of  the  planting  of  the  first  school, 
we  shall  rejoice  in  receiving  from  our  friends  shares  of  any 
amount  from  $5.00  to  $500. 

The  interest  only  of  the  Fund  will  be  used  in  assisting 
the  most  needy  girls;  hence  our  desire,  to  see  this  year,  the 
principle  greatly  increased. 

All  donations  for  this  Fund  may  be  sent  by  post- 
office  orders  or  by  drafts  or  check  to  Miss  Frances  E. 
Ufford,  Dean,  Albemarle  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute, 
Albemarle,  N.  C. 


Newest  Building  at  Albemarle  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute 


Portrait  of  Miss  Ufford's  brother,  Edward  S.  Ufford, 
the  author-preacher,  with  his  U.  S.  life-line  which  saved 
7  sailors  on  the  New  England  coast.  He  entered  the  min- 
istry the  same  year  his  sister  departed  for  the  Southland, 
and  he  has  aided  her  in  her  work, 


No.  63.   The  Dawning  of  the  Day- 

To  my  sister,  Frances  E.  Ufford,  whose  nearly  forty  years  work  among  the  mountaineers  of  North 
Carolina  has  brought  the  day  of  hope  to  many  hearts,  and  to  other  missionaries  in  their  harvest  fields,  this 
song  is  dedicated. 

E.  S.  U.  Rev.  E.  S.  Ufford. 


s 


T 

There's  a  morn-ing  com-ing,  There's  a  day  to  break,  Hill-top  and  val-ley 
There's  a  tri-umph  nearing,  There  are  wrongs  to  right,  Brave-ly  ad-  van-cing 
Vic   -    to  -  ry    is  com-ing,  We  shall  quell  the    foe,  Dark  clouds  are  lift- ing 


sum-mon  us  to  wake;  Voic  -  es  bid  us  hast- en, — Let  us  join  the  fray, 
in  our  Leader's  might,  Rais-ing  high  our  Stand-ard  As  we  pressour  way, 
from  the  vale  be  -  low;  Sor  -  row...    and  sigh  =  ing  Soon  must  flee   a-  way, 


:t=::t/ 


i/^  I 
Chorus. 


For        the  dawning    of    the  day. 

VVait-ingfor 


Oh,   'tis  com-ing!  by  and  by! 

coming  by  ^ 


Bright  stars  are  shin  -  ing,  morn-ing     is     nigh;    Let     us         a  -  wak  -  en, 

Je  -  sus  bids  us     wak  -  en, 

.      ^       _       .p.  .fl. 


I  #- 


-0—0  0  ^- 


-'9  0- 


Watch  and  pray. 
Bids  us  watch  -#-  ^ 

— u^^— i^t^  h^— 


For  the   dawn  -  ing 

Wait-ing  for 
I  i  


the  day. 


y  b*—  Ljs.^  II 


Copyright,  1915,  by  E.  S.  Ufford, 


